The creator economy
Most existing handiwork platforms rely on a for-hire contracting model. In theory, the gig economy purports to democratize the labor market by giving workers greater flexibility and freedom, but the reality is that for most, working in the gig economy means low pay, insecure work, and no employment rights worth speaking of.
Hands On envisions a more equitable, popular, and favorable system in the digital creator economy. According to a September 2021 study from The Influencer Marketing Factory, about 50 million people around the world participate in the digital creator economy - that’s around a third of the size of the entire U.S. workforce. And, in 2021, the digital content creator market was valued north of $100 Billion USD.*
Inclusive Design
During research, it was determined that all respondents identifying as female, or non-binary admitted to experiences of sexism, exclusionary, and/or discriminatory practices related to handiwork. To challenge this, a decision was made to rethink the original architecture of the platform, which drew a distinction between content creators and learning users.
By eliminating the concept of mentor vs. mentee, the platform instead facilitates the growth of all users simultaneously. Without a structural hierarchy, users will be able to share more democratically, and without the burden of institutional superiority.